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Livestrong caught in crossfire of scandal, says VP

The Livestrong Foundation was "caught in the crossfire" of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal but "absolutely" will survive misguided attacks on the charity's credibility, the foundation's executive vice president said Thursday.

The Livestrong Foundation was "caught in the crossfire" of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal but "absolutely" will survive misguided attacks on the charity's credibility, the foundation's executive vice president said in a speech Thursday.

"Our success has never been based on one person," said Andy Miller, Livestrong's executive vice president of operations. "It's based on the (cancer) patients and survivors we serve every day."

Miller gave Livestrong's annual "state of the foundation" address Thursday in Chicago, telling the audience that the foundation was deeply disappointed that Armstrong "misled" his own cancer charity for more than a decade.

Miller even showed Twitter messages in which critics mocked Livestrong by calling it "Liestrong" or "Livewrong." He called it a "difficult year" that "did not go as planned."

But Miller said the foundation's mission is separate from Armstrong, Livestrong's founder, who stepped down from the foundation last year amid controversy that he cheated to win the Tour de France seven consecutive times.

The foundation, known for its iconic yellow wristbands, officially changed its name to Livestrong last year to distance itself further. Its previous official name was the Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by the former cyclist in 1997 after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

"We didn't do it for Lance," said Miller, who gave the speech in place of Livestrong CEO Doug Ulman, whose arrival was delayed by inclement weather. "We did it for our loved ones."

Miller noted Livestrong gets high marks from charity watchdogs. He said the charity ended 2012 with an "impressive revenue number… on par with our peers in the philanthropic community despite really challenging economic conditions." According to the charity, Livestrong had $49 million in revenues in 2012, down 2% from 2011.

Miller also said the organization's proudest accomplishment in 2012 was surpassing 2.5 million people served with free cancer support services.

Armstrong apologized to the Livestrong staff before he taped a nationally televised confession last month with Oprah Winfrey. After denying it for more than a decade, he said he used banned drugs or blood transfusions to boost himself on the bike from the mid-1990s — before his cancer — through 2005. He also said he engaged in doping during all seven of his victories of the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005 — titles that were stripped from him last year by the U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

As recently as last year, the jerseys from those victories adorned a wall at Livestrong headquarters in Austin — a shrine to a story that once inspired millions. But those jerseys since have been removed to make way for a memorial of Livestrong's 15 years in operation. Additional fallout from Armstrong's scandal is expected to be an ongoing issue for the charity for years, particularly as lucrative sponsorship contracts come up from renewal.

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Lance Armstrong has announced he has stepped down as chairman of the Livestrong organization. In this photo from July 2009, he is shown in Monaco preparing for the Tour de France.
Bryn Lennon Getty Images

A "LIVESTRONG" bracelet is worn in this photo August 3, 2004. In late May 2004, Nike and the Lance Armstrong Foundation joined forces and created the bracelet campaign with five million bright yellow wristbands bearing the word "LIVESTRONG."
Stephen Chernin Getty Images

A mural is seen on the Lance Armstrong foundation building Aug. 24, 2012, in Austin. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, erasing one of the most incredible achievements in sports after deciding he had used performance-enhancing drugs to do it.
Eric Gay AP

Lance Armstrong gives a Livestrong hat to Sporting Kansas City owner Cliff Illig during an MLS news conference in Kansas City, Kan., on March 8, 2011. The soccer team's new stadium will be named Livestrong Sporting Park.
Orlin Wagner AP

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lance Armstrong hold a news conference after they participate in the LIVESTRONG Summit at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on July 24, 2008.
Carolyn Kaster AP

A fan holds a placard reading "Go Lance Livestrong" to support Lance Armstrong as she waits for riders during the 12th stage of the 2010 Tour de France on July 16, 2010.
Lionel Bonaventure, AFP/Getty Images